By ZEKE MILLER, LISA MASCARO and E. EDUARDO CASTILLO
WASHINGTON (AP) — Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy advised cheering U.S. legislators throughout a defiant wartime go to to the nation’s capital on Wednesday that in opposition to all odds his nation nonetheless stands, thanking Americans for serving to to fund the warfare effort with cash that’s “not charity,” however an “investment” in international safety and democracy.
The whirlwind cease in Washington — his first identified journey outdoors his nation since Russia invaded in February — was geared toward reinvigorating help for his nation within the U.S. and world wide at a time when there may be concern that allies are rising weary of the pricey warfare and its disruption to international meals and vitality provides.
Zelenskyy referred to as the tens of billions of {dollars} in U.S. army and financial help offered over the previous yr important to Ukraine’s efforts to beat again Russia and appealed for much more sooner or later.
“Your money is not charity,” he sought to reassure each these within the room and people watching at residence. “It’s an investment in the global security and democracy that we handle in the most responsible way.”
Just earlier than his arrival, the U.S. introduced a brand new $1.8 billion army support bundle, together with for the primary time Patriot surface-to-air missiles. And Congress deliberate to vote this week on a recent spending bundle that features about $45 billion in extra emergency help to Ukraine.
The speech to Congress got here after President Joe Biden hosted Zelenskyy within the Oval Office for technique consultations, saying the U.S. and Ukraine would preserve their “united defense” as Russia wages a “brutal assault on Ukraine’s right to exist as a nation.” Biden pledged to assist deliver a few “just peace.”
Zelenskyy advised Biden that he had needed to go to sooner and his go to now demonstrates that the “situation is under control, because of your support.”
The extremely delicate journey got here after 10 months of a brutal warfare that has seen tens of hundreds of casualties on either side and devastation for Ukrainian civilians.
Zelenskyy traveled to Washington aboard a U.S. Air Force jet. The go to had been lengthy sought by either side, however the fitting circumstances solely got here collectively within the final 10 days, U.S. officers mentioned, after high-level discussions in regards to the safety each of Zelenskyy and of his folks whereas he was outdoors of Ukraine. Zelenskyy spent lower than 10 hours in Washington earlier than starting the journey again to Ukraine.
In his remarks to lawmakers, Zelenskky harked again to U.S. victories within the Battle of the Bulge, a turning level in opposition to Nazi Germany in World War II, and the Revolutionary War Battle of Saratoga, an American victory that helped draw France’s support for U.S. independence. The Ukrainian chief predicted that subsequent yr can be a “turning point” within the battle, “when Ukrainian courage and American resolve must guarantee the future of our common freedom — the freedom of people who stand for their values.”
Zelenskyy obtained thunderous applause from members of Congress and introduced lawmakers with a Ukrainian flag autographed by front-line troops in Bakhmut, in Ukraine’s contested Donetsk province. The flag was displayed behind him on the podium by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Vice President Kamala Harris. Pelosi, in flip, introduced Zelenskyy with an American flag that had flown over the Capitol that day, and Zelenskyy pumped it up and down as he exited the chamber.
Declaring in his speech that Ukraine “will never surrender,” Zelenskyy warned that the stakes of the battle had been larger than simply the destiny of his nation — that democracy worldwide is being examined.
“This battle cannot be ignored, hoping that the ocean or something else will provide protection,” he mentioned, talking in English for what he had billed as a “speech to Americans.”
Earlier, in a joint information convention with Biden, Zelenskyy was pressed on how Ukraine would attempt to deliver an finish to the battle. He rejected Biden’s framing of discovering a “just peace,” saying, “For me as a president, ‘just peace’ is no compromises.” He mentioned the warfare would finish as soon as Ukraine’s sovereignty, freedom and territorial integrity had been restored, and Russia had paid again Ukraine for all of the harm inflicted by its forces.
“There can’t be any ‘just peace’ in the war that was imposed on us,” he added.
Biden, for his half, mentioned Russia was “trying to use winter as a weapon, but Ukrainian people continue to inspire the world.” During the information convention, he mentioned Russian President Vladimir Putin had “no intention of stopping this cruel war.”
The two leaders appeared to share a heat rapport, laughing at one another’s feedback and patting one another on the again all through the go to, although Zelenskyy made clear he’ll proceed to press Biden and different Western leaders for ever extra help.
He mentioned that after the Patriot system was up and operating, “we will send another signal to President Biden that we would like to get more Patriots.”
“We are in the war,” Zelenskyy added with a smile, as Biden chuckled on the direct request. “I’m sorry. I’m really sorry.”
Biden advised Zelenskyy that it was “important for the American people, and for the world, to hear directly from you, Mr. President, about Ukraine’s fight, and the need to continue to stand together through 2023.”
Zelenskyy had headed to Washington after making a daring and harmful journey Tuesday to what he referred to as the most well liked spot on the 1,300-kilometer (800-mile) entrance line of the warfare, town of Bakhmut.
Poland’s personal broadcaster, TVN24, mentioned Zelenskyy crossed into Poland early Wednesday on his technique to Washington. The station confirmed footage of what gave the impression to be Zelenskyy arriving at a practice station and being escorted to a motorcade of American SUVs. TVN24 mentioned the video, partially blurred for safety causes, was shot in Przemysl, a Polish border city that has been the arrival level for a lot of refugees fleeing the warfare.
Officials, citing safety considerations, had been cagey about Zelenskyy’s journey plans, however a U.S. official confirmed that Zelenskyy arrived on a U.S. Air Force jet that landed at Joint Base Andrews, simply outdoors the capital, from the Polish metropolis of Rzeszow.
Biden advised Zelenskyy, who wore a combat-green sweatshirt and boots, that ”it’s an honor to be by your facet.”
U.S. and Ukrainian officers have made clear they don’t envision an imminent decision to the warfare and are making ready for combating to proceed for a while. The newest infusion of U.S. cash can be the largest but — and exceed Biden’s $37 billion request.
Biden repeated that whereas the U.S. will arm and practice Ukraine, American forces is not going to be straight engaged within the warfare.
The newest U.S. army support bundle consists of not solely a Patriot missile battery however precision guided bombs for fighter jets, U.S. officers mentioned. It represents an growth within the sorts of superior weaponry supposed to bolster Ukraine’s air defenses in opposition to what has been an growing barrage of Russian missiles.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry has mentioned the supply of the superior surface-to-air missile system can be thought-about a provocative step and that the system and any crews accompanying it might be a authentic goal for Moscow’s army.
“It’s a defensive system,” Biden mentioned of sending the missile system. “It’s not escalatory — it’s defensive.”
The go to comes at an necessary second, with the White House bracing for larger resistance when Republicans take management of the House in January and provides extra scrutiny to assist for Ukraine. GOP chief Kevin McCarthy of California has mentioned his social gathering is not going to write a “blank check” for Ukraine.
Zelenskky appeared properly conscious of political divisions within the U.S. over extended abroad spending, and referred to as on the House and Senate lawmakers to make sure American management stays “bicameral and bipartisan.”
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer opened the chamber’s session on Wednesday by saying that passage of the help bundle and affirmation of the brand new U.S. ambassador to Russia, Lynne M. Tracy, would ship a robust sign that Americans stand “unequivocally” with Ukraine. Tracy was confirmed in a while a 93-2 vote.
The Senate’s prime Republican, Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell, mentioned “the most basic reasons for continuing to help Ukraine degrade and defeat the Russian invaders are cold, hard, practical American interests.” He mentioned “defeating Russia’s aggression will help prevent further security crises in Europe.”
Russia’s invasion, which started Feb. 24, has misplaced momentum. The illegally annexed provinces of Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia stay fiercely contested.
With the combating within the east at a stalemate, Moscow has used missiles and drones to assault Ukraine’s energy tools, hoping to go away folks with out electrical energy as freezing climate units in.
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Castillo reported from Kyiv, Ukraine. Associated Press writers Farnoush Amiri, Lolita C. Baldor, Tara Copp, Kevin Freking, Aamer Madhani, Chris Megerian and Seung Min Kim contributed to this report.
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Follow the AP’s protection of Russia’s warfare in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
Source: www.bostonherald.com”
